Toy windmill



Oct. 4, 1932. vA. D. VANDERGN TOY WINDMILL Filed June 6. 1931 INVENTOR ARTHUR D. VANDEHGON 5*@ MMM ATTOFPNEVE Patented Oct. 4, 1932*v PATENT .ARTHUR D. 'VANDERGON,

F DELANO, MINNESOTA TOY WINDMTLL Application mea June s,

This invention relates to windmill toys and more particularly to toys of this type which are mounted for rotation upon a supporting spindle and which are provided with a front A propeller, a vane for holding the propeller in the face of the wind, and a jointed figure acf tuated by the movement of the propeller. One of the chief features of objection to toys of this type is based on the fact that the elements connected to the jointed figure for actuating the same have heretofore been eX- posed to the view of the observen As a consequence, the eiect intended to be produced by the moving jointed figure is distorted and detracted from. Efforts have been made previously to conceal the operating mechanism by mounting it on `one side or the other of the device but have proved entirely unsuccessful in the case of a windmill toy rotatably mounted upon a supporting spindle inasmuch as the toy may be turned in any and all directions with changes in the direction of the wind. At best the arrangement could only be such that the operating mechanism is concealed to observers in a specifiedarea when the windis blowing in a predetermined direction. It is exceedinglyV unpleasant to an observer to see the linkage system or other sys: tem operating the jointed figure and one of o the general objects of this invent-ion is the provision of a simplified structure arranged in such a manner that no moving parts except` those intended to be viewed by the obs-erver are exposed regardless of wind direction or positionof observer. i

A further object of the invention is the pro# vision of a simplified main housing and bearing structure withinthe housing for the reception of the supporting spindle, wherein the bearing structure also serves to support and reinforce the relatively light main housing. Y Y

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a simplied structure wherein the jointed figure is pivotally mounted upon an extension of the vane.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent upon a detailed study of the drawing in conjunction with the specification and appended claims.

1931. Serial 151'025423305.l

-In the drawing, which is an illustration of the invention, Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a windmill toy; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross-secv tion through the structure shown in Fig. 1 55- with parts broken away ;v f

Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the lines 3,-8 of Fig. 2 and;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear portion 4 of the main housing, the vane above the hous-A ing being shown in cross-section.

The numeral 2 designates a supporting spindle which may be secured in vertical position in any convenient manner as, for

instance, on a fence post 4 by means of nails 65 Y 6, and serves to support at its upper end the main housing 8 of the toy. -v

The main housing 8 is of box-like shape Y with an open bottom and is preferably made of a blank of light sheet metal bent to forml the top 10 and the sides 12. The top 10 has aprojecting portion 14 at the rear which is bent at substantially 90 degrees as shown in Y Fig. 2 to form a closure for the rear end. The sides 12 are also provided with project- 75 ing: flaps 16 and 18 which are folded across at the same end, one. above the other to reinforce the same so that the rear end wall of the main housing comprises the sheets 14, 16 and 18 constituting bent projections of the 80 top 10 and sides 12 respectively. The sheets 14, 16 and 18 are preferably held together bv means of nuts and bolts passing therethrough. The front end wall 2O of the main housing comprises a blank lof sheet metal having bent edge portions 22 substantially at right angles thereto and lying adjacent the inner sides of the side walls 12. These bent edge portions 22 are 'preferably secured to the side walls 12 by means of nuts and 90 bolts as shown although rivets'or soldering maybe used throughout the housing struc'- ture if desired. f

A vane 22 is secured to the rear of the main housing 8 in a plane substantially at 95 right angles to that of the top 10 and along the median line of the top. Preferably the vane 22 has a cut out portion conforming to the shape of the main housing 8 at the intersection of the top and rear end wall, and is 10o is mounted therein with the top of the ring'.

adjacent the top of the main housing and the sides of the ring adjacent the inner surfaces of the side walls 12. Bearing ring 28 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed holes at the top and bottom respectively, which receive and form "bearing surfaces for the supporting spindle 2. The ring may be secured to' thewalls of the main housing inany convenient manner but it has been found advantageous to secure the top of the ring by means of a bent sheet metal member 30 as shown in Fig. 2-which may be soldered or otherwise connected'to'the inner surface of the top 10. The sides of the'ring are preferably connected to the main housing by means of nuts and bolts 82 passing through the side walls 12 .and the sides of the ring. Theupper flat portion of the sheet metal plate 30 reinforcesthe top of the main housing opposite the supporting spindle and coeacts with the hole in the top of the bearing ring to form a thrust bearing, on which the main housing8 is free to rotate about spin'dle2.,

Y The top 10 is provided with a substantially rectangular opening formed by cutting the triangular portions 84 and'bending them perpendicularly with respect to the top. Below this: opening there is formed within the main housing a chamber 86 having as end walls thereof, portions of `the side walls 12, and having as side walls the plates 38 and`40 which maybe mounted within the housing in any convenient manner. Preferably Ythe plates 38 and 40 are provided with bent edge portions engaging the sides 12 of the main housing and riveted or bolted thereto inV a manner similar to the fastening'fof the Ybent edge Yportions 22 of thev frontfend-20- The chamber 36 is further subdivided intoa com# partment'42formed of a bent Ushaped sheet metal plate 44 having one leg ofthe U engaging the side wall 12 of the'housing as shown in Fig. 3.' VFor the purpose'of holding the member 44 in place abolt 46 provided with a collar 48 having a length equal'tothe width of the inside of chamber 42' is" provided. Upon' fastening of the nut coi-acting with the bolt 46', the U shaped sheet metal' plate 44 is held rigidly inV position with its side edges adjacent'the walls 38 and 40,and the bend of the U adjacent the-'top 10. Y j

A drive shaft 50 which passes through openings in the walls 88 and 40 is journalled within the main housing and has a projecting portion 52 extending through the front end` 20. Worm gear 54 which is fixed to this shaft, lies within the chamber 86 and prefermounted on shaft 58 passing through the walls of the chamber 42 as shown in Fig. 3.

The shaft 58 is provided with a collar 60 `secured theretoby meansV of a set-screw and havingend's forming a bearing surface with the inner walls of chamber 42 formed by the U shaped plate 44. Upon rotation of the propeller 62 which is secured to the projecting' Vpart of 52of the drive shaft 50, the pinion 56 will be rotated by means ofk worm gear 5,4.

Positioned above the ,opening in the top of the. main housing, 8 is asecondaryhousing generally designatedl at' 64 which is of rectangular cross-section and has pivoted there-` in a lever 66 to simulate a pump handle. The outer arm of the lever 66'is pivoted to. a jointed figure 'designatedat 68 which is mounted upon the front portion 7 0 of the vane 22 and the inner arm of lever 66 is connected to a link 7 2 which is eccentrically connected to the-pinion 56. In order to further cause the secondary housing 64 Vand lever 66 to simulatea pump,a sheet metal plate 'T4-.is provided in theoutline vof what would be the spoutf The vane 22 acts to hold the entiredevice in the directionof the wind', the main. housing being capableof ready rotation about the spindle`2 by virtue of the bearing ring 28 which further serves toreinforce'this housing. When the propeller is rotated by the wind'and turns-the drive shaft the pinion will be caused' to rotate ,as-previously "explained, and the leverv 66 will receive a' rocking movement from the link 7.2. 4.This rocking movement of the lever V66 will cause the jointed ligure 68 to `move up 'and down therewith vtosimulate the movements of. a person operating the handle ofthe. pump. It will be observed that Lall ofthe operating mechanism isconcealed from the'view of the observer irrespective of thev relativeposition of the observer so thatthe proper'and desired effect is at all times produced by the device.

Having described my invention, what f1 now claim as new and desire to secure by Lete ,l

ters .PatentV ofthe United Statesl is as follows: Y- r l..

1. In' awindmill toy, a supporting spindle,

a main housing mounted for rotation upon said spindle and having ajtop providedwithV an opening therein,l sides,- and front and back ends, a vane mounted upon theihousing f and extended rearwardly therefrom in a' plane substantially at right angles to the top, a jointed toy figure mounted above the said housing ata Vpoint removed from the opening therein, a' drive'shaft journalledin theghous.-

means for driving the pinion from said drive sh aft, asecondary housing arranged over the aforesaid opening in the main housing, a lever pivoted in said secondary housing having one arm inside and the other projecting outside the secondary housing, the outside arm being pivoted to the jointed ligure, and a link pivotally connected to the inside arm of said lever at one end and eccentrically connected to the pinion at its other end, said seconda-ry housing enclosing said link.

2. In a Windmill toy, a supporting spindle, a main housing mounted for rotation upon said spindle and having a top provided with an opening therein, sides, and front and back ends, a vane mounted upon the housing and extended rearwardly therefrom in a plane substantially at right angles to the top, a

jointed toy figure mounted above the said housing at a point removed from the opening therein. a drive shaft journalled in the housing and projecting through its front end, a propeller secured to the projecting portion of the drive shaft, a secondary housing arranged over the aforesaid opening in the main housing, ondarv housing having one arm inside and the other projecting outside the secondary housing, the outside arm being pivoted to the jointed figure and means connected to the inside arm of the lever for rocking the same upon rotation of the drive shaft, said rocking means being enclosed within the main and secondary housings.

3. In a windmill toy, a supporting spindle, a main housing having a top provided with tially at right angles to that of the main housing, a vlever pivotedA in said secondary housing having one arm inside and the other arm projecting outside the secondary housing,

the outside arm being pivotally connected to the jointed ligure, and a link pivotally connected to said inside arm within the secondary housing and to the pinion, said secondary housing enclosing said link and being shaped to simulate with said lever a water pump and handle.

4c. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the jointed gure is pivoted to the vane.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of J une, 1931. f ARTHUR D. VANDERGON.

a lever pivoted'in said secan opening therein, sides, and front and back ends, a bearing ring having a top and sides conforming substantially to the contour of i the top and sides of the main housing, said ring being mounted within said housing with its top and sides adjacent to the top and side walls of the housing to reinforce the same, said bearing ring being provided with oppositely disposed upper and lower openingsV for [the reception of the supporting spindle whereby said housing may be rotatably mounted upon the top of said spindle, a vane mounted upon the housing and extending rearwardly therefrom in a plane substantially at right angles to the top, a jointed toy figure mounted above the housing at a point removed from said opening therein, a drive shaft journalled in the housing and projecting from the front end thereof, a propeller secured to the projecting portion of the drive shaft, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing opposite said opening in the top, means for driving the pinion from said drive shaft, a secondary housing arranged over the aforesaid opening and having a longitudinal axis substan- 

